Dallas Cowboys determined to show offensive lines win championships
In addition to unproductive defensive draft picks, the Dallas Cowboys haven’t paired head coach Jason Garrett with a quality defensive coordinator either.
For all of the usually constructive criticism I direct towards Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, I actually like the guy. I didn’t think Garrett was ready to be a head coach when he took over for Wade Phillips and there proved to many growing pains with our young head coach. It took Garrett a few years for him and his staff to understand clock management.
Garrett gained offensive coordinator experience as a quarterback by working in Dallas with Norv Turner, currently the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. Garrett also learned New Orleans head coach Sean Payton offensive system during his time with the New York Giants. He also worked with University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban during Saban’s stint as coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Garrett’s Air Coryell offensive system helped former quarterback Tony Romo become the most prolific passer in Cowboys history. Under Garrett, the Cowboys problem has never been the offensive system.
Maybe Garrett is a puppet that claps too much on the sidelines. His downfall and biggest regret will be falling in love with a winning streak and not allowing a healthy Romo to return as the starter in 2016. His second regret will be not focusing on the defensive side of the football.
The Cowboys have spent far too many first round draft picks on the offensive line. The front office possesses a weird philosophy that believes defensive linemen aren’t worth first round picks.
The Cowboys selection of Boise State linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch is going to be their best defensive draft pick in years. However, Vander Esch isn’t a defensive lineman.
The 2015 NFL draft selection of standing long jumper Byron Jones was the worst first round pick since linebacker Bobby Carpenter. In the second round of that year, they selected “Mr. Smoke Weed Everyday” aka linebacker Randy Gregory.
In 2016, I was a fan of linebacker Jaylen Smith in the second round, but could the Cowboys’ defense really afford to red-shirt a player after a 4-12 season? The second and third round picks of defensive tackle Maliek Collins and defensive end Charles Tapper seemed solid. Unfortunately, their productivity has been derailed by injuries.
In 2017, defensive end Vidauntae Charlton aka Taco, spent the season as a backup to DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford. Personally, I’m against any first round draft pick that isn’t an immediate starter.
In addition to unproductive defensive draft picks, the Cowboys haven’t helped Garrett with a quality defensive coordinator either. Cowboy Nation is excited about Kris Richard joining the staff, but he’s officially just a defensive backs coach.
The defensive coordinator is still Rod Marinelli and he’s one of the few head coaches in NFL history to have a winless 0-16 record. Marinelli is still regarded as an upgrade over former defensive coordinators Rob Ryan and Monte Kiffin.
How long can Marinelli rely on the greatness of linebacker Sean Lee and playmaking abilities of safety Jeff Heath to stop offenses each week?
Not so fun fact: With the exception of a meaningless last game of the 2017 season against the Philadelphia Eagles – the Cowboys haven’t held a regular season opponent scoreless since 2009.
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The popular phrase is – defense wins championships. Not offensive lines or running games but defense. Jason Garrett needs to focus on improving the Dallas Cowboys defense this season. It might save his job.
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